Amritsar Massacre
The Amritsar Massacre, which occurred on April 13, 1919, was a pivotal event in India's struggle for independence from British colonial rule. British troops, commanded by General Reginald E.H. Dyer, opened fire on a large gathering of unarmed Indian demonstrators at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, who were protesting against oppressive colonial policies. The crowd, which had gathered peacefully, believed that the British would not resort to violence against civilians. However, the soldiers fired indiscriminately into the crowd, resulting in the deaths of 379 individuals and injuring nearly 1,200 others, with no British casualties reported.
This tragic incident not only intensified Indian resistance to British rule but also drew sympathy from some liberal factions in Britain, marking a significant shift in public perception regarding colonial governance. The massacre is often seen as a turning point in the Indian independence movement, galvanizing support for anti-colonial actions and highlighting the urgent need for change. The legacy of the Amritsar Massacre remains a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom and the complexities of colonial history.
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Subject Terms
Amritsar Massacre
Type of action: Suppression of an Indian anti-British demonstration
Date: April 13, 1919
Location: Jalianwala Bagh, Amritsar, India
Combatants: 50 British soldiers and 40 Gurkha irregulars vs. nearly 25,000 unarmed Indian protestors
Principal commander: British, General R. E. H. Dyer (1864–1927)
Result: 379 dead and 1,200 wounded Indian demonstrators
On April 13, 1919, British troops went to the Jalianwala Bagh in Amritsar to suppress an anti-British demonstration there. The soldiers found several thousand anticolonial demonstrators gathered in the Bagh. Over the previous weeks, there had been several clashes between British troops and protesters, including a riot on April 12 in which several Europeans were killed. Largely, however, the protestors had followed Mahatma Gandhi’s precept of passive resistance.
When troops under the command of General Reginald E. H. Dyer arrived at the Bagh, the demonstrators remained in place. The demonstrators were confident that the British would not fire on unarmed civilians. The British, however, immediately opened fire on the unarmed crowd. After firing one volley over the heads of the crowd, British officers ordered their troops to fire low into the mass of demonstrators. As the Indians began to flee, the British troops continued to shoot. The British troops concentrated their fire on the exits. The result of the British action was 379 Indians dead and nearly 1,200 wounded. There were no British casualties.
Significance
The Amritsar Massacre had the double effect of mobilizing and hardening Indian anticolonial resolve and of engendering the sympathy of liberal elements in England. The massacre became a rallying point for anticolonial sympathizers.
Bibliography
Furneaux, Rupert. Massacre at Amritsar. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1963.
Hunter, William. Report of the Committee Appointed by the Government of India to Investigate the Disturbances in the Punjab, Etc. London: His Majesty’s Stationary Office, 1920.
Punjab Government. Reports on the Punjab Disturbances, April, 1919. London: His Majesty’s Stationary Office, 1920
Savita, Narain. The Historiography of the Jalianwala Bagh Massacre, 1919. Hartford, Wis.: Spantech and Lancer, 1998.